Seal.



PATENTED APR. 2, 1907.

L. A. BROWN.

'. SEAL.

APPLICATION run-n 1111a. 11, 1905.

. Zvzkerzfi? Maj y Qfirozuza,

outrun sra rns PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS A. BROWN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO ST. LOUIS STEEL ENAMELED BRICK AND SEAL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

SEAL.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 2, 1907'.

Application filed December 11, 1905 Serial No. 291,278.

To (LZZ 1072 0771, it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS A. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a new and useful Seal, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to seals for bags and sacks and similar receptacles; and the object is to provide an improved seal comprising a seal-body and means in connection with the thread, or tape, or the like which closes the receptacle, whereby it may be locked with the seal-body and thereby form an inseparable connection, so that the closed receptacle cannot be opened without destruction of or visible injury to the means binding the receptacle. The seal may also be applied to other uses.

In the drawings, wherein I have shown the preferred arrangement of my invention, Figure 1 is a view of a tape forming part of the invention before being applied to any use. Fig. 2 shows my invention in connection with a bag, the bag being held closed by the seal. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the seal-body revealing the locking devices therein and showing the member on the tape which con nects with the seal-body ready for insertion.

Fig. 4 is another sectional view of the same parts. Fig. 5 is a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 3, showing the tape when connected with the seal. Fig. 6 is a like view corresponding to Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a crosssectional view taken on the line a a of Fig. 8 looking downward. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the hooked member before it is fastened to the tape or thread.

The seal-body 1 is composed of any suitable material and may be of any preferred size and shape. In the formation of the body 1 a metallic case 2 is embedded therein remote from the sides, and an opening or passage-way 3 leads from one end or side to the seal-body 1 into one of the open ends of the said case 2. As clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the passage-way 3 is slightly wider than the interior of the case, and the outer end of the case forms an abutment or shoulder within the passage-way. A wire spring has its'ends 4 projecting into the case 2 from the open end of said case, the ends of said spring substantially forming a V. The central portion 5 of the spring is bent laterally at right {angles to the ends or legs thereof and is embedded within the body 1 at the side of the case 2, so that it is impossible to remove or draw the spring out of its position. For use in connection with this seal-body I provide a separate tape or the like and in the drawings have designated the same by 6. These tapes are made in predetermined lengths, each being adapted for a specific purpose. For instance, for seals which are to close bags containing flour the tapes are made of a definite length, andfor other purposes requiring longer or shorter tapes I provide specific tapes of the required length. On one end of each tape is rigidly and inseparably secured a button or knob or other suitable enlargement, such as 7. The tape is sewn threadwise'through the bag or container material and drawn until the button or knob 7 binds thereagainst and holds the tape, as shown in Fig. 2.

On the end of the tape .6 which is opposite from the button or knob 7 is secured the de- Vice by which the tape is connected to the sealbody. Whenever'the material composing the bag or container is of sufficiently coarse weave to permit passage of this device without injury, said device may be. attached to the tape before the latter is sewn through the material, in such instance the device acting as a needle. In case of too fine weave of the material to admit of advantageous use as a needle the device should be attached onto bent portion is even with the abutment formed by the ends of the wings 10, as shown at 11, thereby forming a shoulder or abutment on each side of the finger.

To connect the tape to the seal-body the finger 8 is passed into passage-way 3 and into the case 2, separating the ends 4 of the spring. The finger fits snugly within the case and, together with the spring, closes the end of the case. The finger is forced on into the case until the hook or shoulder 9 engages below one of the ends 4, when the connection is complete. The enlargement formed by the wings 10 and the bent end 11 of the finger substantially close the passage-way'3, so that no tool can be passed into the seal to tamper therewith. The seal-body when attached E close to the bag and prevents retraction of the tape, so-that without destruction of the seal-body or mutilation of the tape no access can be had to the contents.

I am aware that the seal may be made with variations in detail from the structure shown and described without in the least departing fron the spirit and scope of my invention, an

WVithout limiting myself to inessential features, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s

1. A seal comprising a tape adapted to be sewn threadwise in cloth and the like, a knob or button inseparably fastened to one end thereof, a metallic finger fastened to the other end of the tape, a sealbody having a passage-way therein to receive the finger, and a spring within the passage-way to engage with the finger.

2. A seal comprising a tape adapted to be sewn threadwise in cloth and the like, a knob or button inseparably fastened to one end thereof, a metallic finger having a hook 011 the other end of the tape, a seal-body having a passage-way to receive the hook, and means, within the passage-way, to engage the hook to prevent its withdrawal.

3. A seal comprising a tape, a knob or button inseparably fastened to one end thereof, a metallic finger having wings bent over to bind upon the other end of the tape and form a shoulder on one side of the finger, a shoulder on the other side of the finger, a hook on the end of, the finger, a seal-body having a passage-way therein to receive the finger and the shoulders, a case within the passage-way to receive the hook, and a spring partially embedded in the seal-body,

projecting into the case to engage the hook, substantially as specified.

A. A seal for bags and other receptacles comprising a flexible article adapted to be sewn threadwise through the bag or receptacle material, a knob or button inseparably wened to one end of said flexible article, a seal-body, and means for engaging said body inseparably with the other end of said flexible article to prevent extraction thereof after it has been sewn, substantially as specified.

5. A seal for bags and similar receptacles comprising a flexible member which can be sewn threadwise through the bag or receptacle material, a knob or button inseparably fastened on one end of said member, a sealbody .inclosing locking mechanism, and means rigid with the flexible member to engage with the locking mechanism and thereby prevent extraction of the flexible member after it has been sewn, substantially as specified.

6. A seal for bags and other receptacles comprising a flexible article adapted to be sewn threadwise through the bag or receptacle material, a knob or button inseparably fastened on one end of said flexible article, a metallic finger attached to the other end of the tape, a shoulder on each side of the finger, a hook or shoulder near the end of the finger, a seal-body having a passage-way therein to receive the finger and the shoulders, a case of narrower width than the passage-way embedded within the seal-body and opening into the passage-way to receive the hook, a spring having its central portion embedded within the seal-body at one side of the passage-way and its two ends projecting into the case from the open end thereof and sub stantially forming a V whereby to engage the hook, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LE'WIS A. BROWN. [L. s.] l/Vitnesses:

FRANK J. MoCAsLIN, J. D. RIP'PEY. 

